The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-12-08
In its chapter upon reasonable charges"

sAAS SSAAAAAAo'AoA Oe@yos
OF the duties devoived upon the commission
by the act to regulate commerce, none is more
perplexing and difficult than that Of passing
upon complaints made Of rates as being unreal
rates involves many considerations and is so ef-
tected by circumstances and conditions which
may ct first blush seem foreign that
it is quite impossible to deal with it on purely
whatever, without a consciousness that no con-
clusion which may be reached can by demon
stratlon be shown to be absolutely correct. The
public interest is best served when the rates are
dfersns sections Of our e'u eonntry s'" snd
be done BY making values an important con.
sideration. and by placing upon the higher
classes of freight some share Of the burden that
on a relatively equal apportionment If service
less value. study Of the act has satisfied the
commission that it was intended in its passage
to preserve for the people tho benefits
transportation lines of tho country:
II that snail be done the towns which have great
natural advantages, or advantages acquired by
thoroughfares Of commerce, will have cheaper
rates than can ordinarily be obtained by towns
less favorably situated. 1t might possibly be
within the competency Of legislative power to
equal mileage rates for the whole country,
but this. If enforced, would put an end to com.
petition as factor in making rates, and to q
tiers of tho country Of their several natural ad.
vanta9es and also Of the benefit OF expenditures
made by them in creating for themselves new
channels OF trade. 1t would: In fact. work rev.
olution tn the business OF the country. which,
though 1t might be greatly beneficial in some di.
rectOns. would be fearfully destructive in others
Congress has not by the existing legislation un-
dertaken to 1naugurate such a revolution. The
competition by water Is the most important
factor in forcing rates to q low level at the
points where tho lines Of land and water trans
country has demonstrated that The artificial
waterways cannot be successful competitors with
the railroads on full terms. The railroads long
and Illinois Of nearly all their Importance, and
the Erie canal ts only maintained a. great
channel of trade by the iberality of the State Of
New York in making Its use free. In their COM
pettt1ve struggles with each q her towns cannot
ignore the effect which the existence Of natural
waterways must have upon railroad tariffs; the
railroad companies cannot ignore it, nor can the
exist and be allowed for its force according to
natural laws. Neither can the great free Erie
canal be ignored: it influences the rates to New
rectly. through its influence upon the rates to
New York, it influences these to all other sea-
board cities, and, indeed, to all that section of
the country.
THE LAW BENEFICIAL.
The commission finds that the operation of
the law has, In general. been beneficial: that
1t tends to increase railroad earnings. while.
ut the same time, the tendency of rates has
been downward. These facts are attributed
to the increased movement of materials. in
duced by faith in the stability and fairness
of the charges On amendments to the law
the report says:
The commission has not seen occasion for rec
ommendtng any very considerable changes in
the act under which its work is performed It
has seemed to its members that the law for the
regulation OF interstate commerce should he Der.
m1tted to save growth. and that 1t would most
gree Of efficiency and usefulness in that way.
The general features Of the act are grounded in
principles that will stand the test Of time and
experience. can determine whether all the pro-
visions made for their enforcement are safe
SQUAD and workable. When they prove
be safe gard in legislation to
perfect. Incidentally In this report some need
OF amendment has been pointed out. Especially
ought the law, as we think, to indicate in plain
terms whether the express business and al
other transportation by tho carriers named in
the net shall be governed by its provisions. The
provision against the sudden raising Of rates
rates as well Is to others The commission
ought also to have the authority ana tho
means to bring about something like unanimitv
OF tho method Of publishing rates, which is now
IN great confusion, apd to carefully examine coll
ledt and supervise the schedules, contracts, etc,
erly to handlo the mass Of statistical Informs
ton called for by the twentieth section. Other
matters. and particularly whether TRANSPORTS.
ton by water shall be made subject to the IA
are committed to tho wisdom Of congress NTH.
oat Recommendation.